Moving around in Quito is not a complicated task, you only need to know a few basic facts about the orientation of the streets, the different areas that exist in Quito, and differentiate the lines of buses, taxis and integrated transport systems.

There are three integrated transport systems in the Metropolitan District of Quito: Trolebús (Trolleybus), the Ecovia, and Metrobus Q. The three travel around the city longitudinally, from South to North and vice-versa, by three specific areas: Trolebus by 10 de Agosto Avenue, the Ecovia by 6 de Diciembre Avenue (North) and Napo/Maldonado Avenues (South), and Metrobus Q by La Prensa and América Avenue.

The Trolebus runs through the city to the South, it has different stages that cover from La Y station till the Quitumbe Bus Terminal. The Ecovía has two stages, the first one goes till El Playón de La Marín (Center-South) and from there starts the second stage called “Corredor Sur Oriental” wich reaches to the Quitumbe Bus Terminal. The Metrobus Q reaches only to the Playón de La Marín.

In the three systems you must be cautious since they usually go full with people (especially the Trolebus). Therefore always be careful with your belongings and think well where you should locate yourself, for your convenience, for the traffic of people and for your quick and easy output (since none of the three systems wait much time at each stop).

The Trolebus is the oldest system in Quito, therefore is the one that has been more developed. Trolebus travels throughout the city in its longitudinal axis: from "The Y" North, near the airport, to Quitumbe South, where is located the South Terminal of inter-provincial buses.

The Trolebus service is organized in terms of schedules and frequency of buses; it works from 5h00 to 24h00, from Monday to Friday, and on weekends and holidays from 6h00 to 22h00. After midnight Trolebus offers night buses with a frequency of 30 minutes of interval between each unit and a cost of $0.50 USD passage.

Trolebus has several buses of integration towards the suburbs of the city, both in the Northern station of "La Y", in "El Recreo" South Station, and in the other South Station "Morán Valverde". In each one of the mentioned stations, schedules and frequency of each feed path can be found. For more information see the map of the link trolleybus route buses.

The Ecovia runs longitudinally the city in its eastern side, in the North from the Rio Coca Avenue, and in the South from La Marin-Los Chillos station. The advantage this system has before the other two are their stops. At each stop there is one single platform for buses round trip, this characteristic is different than the other two systems which have two separated platforms by each South or North stop. If you travel in Ecovia you can descend at any stop to take the bus for return on the same platform, and without paying another passage.

Similar to the Trolebus, the Ecovia have relatively organized schedules and frequency of lines. Ecovia operates from 6h00 to 22h00, from Monday to Sunday, including holidays. After 22h00 comes into operation the night tour with frequencies of 30 minutes each one and a cost of $0.50 USD fee.

It also has integration buses, specifically in the Northern Rio Coca station. In this there is a bus that goes toward the Valley of Cumbayá, specifically to San Juan Cumbayá train station, this bus costs $0.10 taking it inside the Northern station of the Ecovia "Rio Coca". There are also two integrated bus lines to the suburbs in the North of Quito, San Juan and Zabala, the extra cost for these units is $0.05 USD.

In the "Rio Coca" North Station, there are several routes of buses, including one that integrates with the North Trolebus station and another that goes to the North Terminal of inter-provincial buses in Carcelén. The frequency of the buses and the schedule of the different routes of integration have been published on the platforms of embarkation of each one.

Metrobus Q is a system that is in private hands, and has been planned along with the municipality of the DMQ (Metropolitan District of Quito) to be integrated with the two systems mentioned, in the new massive transport system that would operate in Quito.

By this time, this system it is known as the North Central Corridor that goes from the “Estación de Transferencia Norte-La Ofelia”, crossing all La Prensa Avenue and Av. America, reaching the Marin-Los Chillos station. This service is not as organized as the previous two. It works from 6h00 to 22h00 approximately, and on weekends and holidays from 6h00 to 21h00.

At the North Station "La Ofelia" there are several routes of integration to suburbs of the North, including an integration bus line to the North of inter-provincial buses Terminal in Carcelén. Also, here is where you can take the bus that goes to the city Mitad del Mundo, paying $0.05 more inside the station. The frequency of these bus routes and schedules are not published, and thus are somewhat irregular and disorganized.

A graphic idea of how are structured the three aforementioned systems is shown in the following map of the Metropolitan public transport system in Quito, which is fairly detailed and shows how the city is integrated in its entire length. The dotted lines represent paths that are still under construction or planning.

You have to know this

The so called “Sistemas intregrados de transporte” in Quito are: Trolebus, Metrobus Q, and Ecovia.

These three systems travel around the City longitudinally, from North to South and vice versa.

Both the Trolley and the Ecovia operate 24 hours a day. After the hour of the regular service the charge is $0.50 USD and the frequency of each bus has an interval of 30 minutes.

The cost for any of these three systems is $0.25 USD. Apply the 50% discount for children under 12 years, over 65s, students and people with disabilities.

You pay an extra cost (usually $0.05 USD) by the trans-shipment to any rural area of Quito.